Mathis [R]

[demcmullan]

How do you think that we can get Mathis on the field for a full game given our depth of midfield players? You would have to assume that Reyna, Donovan, Beasley, JOB, Armas would be the top choices right now.

Mathis is our best option on free kicks as demonstrated in the Poland friendly. He is deadly on direct and in-direct free kicks. I don't think that he is an option up top because he gets lost during the game when he doesn't see the ball enough. Therefore he has to be in the midfield or as a withdrawn striker.

Any ideas???

[Deuteriumoxide]

How do you think that we can get Mathis on the field for a full game given our depth of midfield players? You would have to assume that Reyna, Donovan, Beasley, JOB, Armas would be the top choices right now.

Mathis is our best option on free kicks as demonstrated in the Poland friendly. He is deadly on direct and in-direct free kicks. I don't think that he is an option up top because he gets lost during the game when he doesn't see the ball enough. Therefore he has to be in the midfield or as a withdrawn striker.

Any ideas???

Put him in at forward, he's not as fast as Wolff but I bet clint would have buried one of Josh's chances last night.

He plays well in the midfield so all of the sudden he gets lost when playing forward?

[kurgen99]

Put him in at forward, he's not as fast as Wolff but I bet clint would have buried one of Josh's chances last night.

He plays well in the midfield so all of the sudden he gets lost when playing forward?

Agree. Play him at forward, not Wolf.

[United20]

Therefore he has to be in the midfield or as a withdrawn striker. Any ideas???

Considering that Arena will probaby want Armas/Reyna central mid combo, then placing Mathis at striker is the best bet. He belongs out on the field. He changes the face of the US attack, and is usually effective.

Although, I must admit a midfield with Beasley, Mathis, Reyna, and Donovan seem deadly and could prove to be the best US midfield combo regardless of the formation.

I would put O'Brien in there but he just doesn't stay healthy enough. If he is healthy, then put Mathis up-front and watch the offense still roll.

[juice]

I agree that Mathis must be on the field for the rest of the qualifiers. When on the top of his game, he adds another dimension that the rest forwards don't have. Clint has the ability to take defenders on the dribble or put one on target from distance. Wolff might have better speed and make better runs off the ball, but I'm tired of seeing him waste one chance after another.

[Red Card]

Agree. Play him at forward, not Wolf.

Mathis is at his best when he plays with Wolff. It can only happen if both Reyna and McBride are not playing. Mathis needs the right target, Wolff needs the right passer.

[Dynamo Kev]

It is such a pleasure to watch him kick the ball. I'm not sure if he deserves to be in the first 11 but he kicks the ball like no other American.

Long live Mathis!!!

[Elessar1733]

Given the way he performed for his club this past season in midfield (fairly well switching from an offensive to defensive role under a new coach), and the way he looked bringing the ball up out of the back when he was in against Poland, I'm going to say that if he shows good form this next season in midfield for Hannover, he needs to be in midfield.

Perhaps:

Beasley.......Donovan.......Reyna
..................Mathis

Or perhaps:

Beasley...........Mathis..........Donovan
...........O'Brien...........Reyna

If O'Brien is healthy.

Or:

Beasley.................Donovan
......[someone]...Mathis

Replace [someone] with Reyna, Armas, O'Brien as you like.

...and before you rip on the first one, remember how good Reyna looked against Mexico in '02 from that position.

Also please keep in mind I'm saying IF he keeps good form in the midfield in the upcoming club season, and also remember that he played a LOT of defense in the last quarter of the season for Hannover.

Hester

[MetroMatt]

I can't say I've ever understood why Arena doesn't play Mathis more. Who cares if he isn't in amazing shape, he is the only true goal scorer in the American pool. I can't think of many times when he shouldn't be on the field, maybe take him off when we have a lead. But who else would you want either on a set piece or in the box with the ball at their feet? Mathis is a goal scorer, plain and simple. He is a finisher. We don't really have another one. We also don't have anyone who has a clue how to take a free kick. He isn't a perfect player but fills some vitak needs. So what he can't chase the other team around the pitch, you have 9 others who can. Let Mathis hang around the goal and score. I have thought for years he is a perfect withdrawn forward. Its a shame he doesn't work better with McBride.

[turbostevo]

Mathis is at his best when he plays with Wolff. It can only happen if both Reyna and McBride are not playing. Mathis needs the right target, Wolff needs the right passer.

I agree. I'd love to see them play more together.

Plus, Mathis is one of the few players on the team with some real personality. We need some more cocky, rowdy guys who exude a certain level of intimidation. Of course, bottom line... I just want to win.

In another note -- one day Clint Mathis is going to make a great tv broadcaster for US Soccer. :)

[Richie]

How do you think that we can get Mathis on the field for a full game given our depth of midfield players? You would have to assume that Reyna, Donovan, Beasley, JOB, Armas would be the top choices right now.

Mathis is our best option on free kicks as demonstrated in the Poland friendly. He is deadly on direct and in-direct free kicks. I don't think that he is an option up top because he gets lost during the game when he doesn't see the ball enough. Therefore he has to be in the midfield or as a withdrawn striker.

Any ideas???

Mathis just have to get his fitness level up and get his head on straight so he doesn't disappear in games.

As a mid he should try to always be in a second attacker position for who ever has the ball all over the field. So any player can make a short pass to him if they want or if they get in trouble. He would get a ton of touches in the game if he did that.

I think Donovan will really be something if he put himself in a second attacker position. He would make even a bigger difference to the team if he was the guy. He already has the fitness to do it.

[demcmullan]

Beasley...........Mathis..........Donovan
...........O'Brien...........Reyna

If O'Brien is healthy.

Hester

This was one of the ideas that I came up with while thinking about this. I believe that this puts our most talented people on the field at the same time. I would imagine that McBride would be the lone forward up top with Beasley, Donovan and Mathis joining the attack from the midfield.

When I said that Mathis gets lost up top, I meant that when he doesn't get enough touches during the course of the game he seems to be ineffective. Putting him in the midfield with a free role to run up into a striker position would be ideal in my opinion.

Besides, he would've taken the ball out of McBride's hand for that PK and ripped the net with a shot....

[juventino3]

This was one of the ideas that I came up with while thinking about this. I believe that this puts our most talented people on the field at the same time. I would imagine that McBride would be the lone forward up top with Beasley, Donovan and Mathis joining the attack from the midfield.

When I said that Mathis gets lost up top, I meant that when he doesn't get enough touches during the course of the game he seems to be ineffective. Putting him in the midfield with a free role to run up into a striker position would be ideal in my opinion.

Besides, he would've taken the ball out of McBride's hand for that PK and ripped the net with a shot....

McBride failed as a lone striker at Fulham. A more dynamic Conor Casey would probably be better as a lone striker in this lineup. Twellman would be an interesting option in this role as well. He likes to play up high and has the ability to combine well with other players. Plus he's the best finisher in our whole pool of forwards.

[Shabs]

...if he shows good form this next season in midfield for Hannover, he needs to be in midfield....
Also please keep in mind I'm saying IF he keeps good form in the midfield in the upcoming club season, and also remember that he played a LOT of defense in the last quarter of the season for Hannover.

Hester

Except Lienen, the new H96 coach, has stated that he sees Clint as a fwd this year.

[nobody]

If we stick with 2 attacking and 2 defensive/holding midfielders, we could always push Donovan back up front, where he works well with McBride, and let Mathis have the right sided attacking role from midfield.

Without a strong partner for McBride staking a claim, which I really haven't seen yet, this could be a good option...

.....McBride..Donovan
...Beasley......Mathis
.......Armas..Reyna
Boca..Gibbs..Pope..Dolo
........Friedel

[drace768]

One way to get Mathis into the midfield with Reyna, Donovan, and Beasley, would be to move Beasley to one of the d-mid positions in the box midfield.

Mathis---Donovan
Beasley--Reyna

Remember, Arena has said that Beasley has the best defensive skills on the whole team. His speed would allow him to cover a large amount of the field and he has more offensive talent than any other d-mid we have until O'Brien can stay consistently healthy. I doubt this will ever happen, but IMO it is an interesting idea.

[Sachsen]

One way to get Mathis into the midfield with Reyna, Donovan, and Beasley, would be to move Beasley to one of the d-mid positions in the box midfield.

Mathis---Donovan
Beasley--Reyna

Remember, Arena has said that Beasley has the best defensive skills on the whole team. His speed would allow him to cover a large amount of the field and he has more offensive talent than any other d-mid we have until O'Brien can stay consistently healthy. I doubt this will ever happen, but IMO it is an interesting idea.

I agree. I would like to see Mathis out there more often during qualifiers.

I like the thought about Beasley. Assuming and praying that everyone is healthy, try this 3-5-2 on for size:


------McBride/Casey--Wolff/Twellman------
---------Mathis--------Donovan-----------
---Beasley------O'Brien---------Reyna-----
--Bocanegra---Pope/Gibbs----Dolo/Hejduk--
---------------GK du jour------------------


(Or call it a 3-3-2-2 if you want to get picky.)

Have Mathis and Donovan take all the corners and free kicks.

[OBartleby]

I can't say I've ever understood why Arena doesn't play Mathis more.
....
The only reason I can think of, besides the others mentioned, is that Bruce is really big on team cohesion. He recognizes Mathis' talents but doesn't seem to think he's part of the cohesion that Bruce is looking for.

[Qamle]

I totally agree with you guys. Mathis needs to be in the game. I wonder if he pissed off Arena or if his training attitude is bad or something. He served up some nice balls on Sunday and we'll need him against Jamaica. Go Mathis!

[Poachin_Goalz]

------Wolff------McBride
Beasley----Mathis----Donovan
-----O'Brien------Maz
Boca-------Pope-----Reyna
----------GK